# FM Essential vs Polywave

The clearest difference is rating: Polywave at 4.7 against FM Essential's 3.0. Polywave also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 40%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 15 months). FM Essential's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Polywave sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FM Essential asks for nothing beyond the download.

Polywave holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 34 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of FM Essential's written reviews are positive against 80% of Polywave's.

FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, Polywave every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FM Essential | Polywave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614/reviews) | **[4.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **70** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 88 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yamaha Corporation of America](https://appshunter.io/developer/408058585) | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) |

## What reviewers say

### FM Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614)

This app is an FM tone generator and synthesizer for iPhone and iPad, offering real-time performance capabilities and voice editing. It includes a variety of presets, arpeggiator patterns, chord pads, and scales, along with drum functionalities. The app also supports external hardware integration and advanced sound manipulation through effects, EQ, and a ball controller.

**Highlights:** FM tone generator, Real-time synth performance, Voice editing, Arpeggiator and chord pads, Effects and EQ edit, Ball controller for sound modulation, Step sequencer

**In-app purchases:** none


### Polywave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271)

Create unique, evolving sonic experiences with a novel wavetable sequencer inspired by vintage synths. Draw your own waveforms, explore a vast library, and connect to external keyboards or DAWs. Record your creations directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Wavetable sequencer, Custom waveform drawing, Expansive waveform library, 100+ factory presets, MIDI and Audio Unit support, Live recording module, 8-voice polyphony

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FM Essential free?

FM Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Polywave free?

Polywave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, FM Essential or Polywave?

Polywave is rated higher. FM Essential averages 3.0 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Polywave averages 4.7 from 34 ratings.

### Do FM Essential or Polywave have ads?

Neither FM Essential nor Polywave shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FM Essential or Polywave?

FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, and Polywave every 3 months. Most recently, FM Essential was updated on October 6, 2026 and Polywave on October 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*